Asus introduces ZenFone 5 and Max Pro M1 in Malaysia

• ZenFone 5 gains bezel-less screen and AI features
• ZenFone Max Pro M1 packs large 5,000mAh battery

ASUS has introduced not one, but two new ZenFone smartphones: the ZenFone 5 and ZenFone Max Pro M1.

Leading the charge is the ZenFone 5, its new challenger for the mid-range segment. Introduced during Mobile World Congress 2018, the ZenFone 5 made headlines for its brand new design that sports a large 6.2-inch Full HD+ (2,246 x 1,080) Super IPS bezel-less display that covers nearly 90% of the front.

It offers a fingerprint reader on the back and FaceUnlock features using the front-facing camera.

The ZenFone 5 comes powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636, now equipped with what Asus claims to be Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities and AI Boost for better performance, along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

On the back, it sports dual cameras with a 12-Megapixel main camera with an aperture of f/1.8 and a secondary 8-Megapixel camera for wide-angle shots with an aperture of f/2.2. It has an 8-Megapixel front camera for selfies.

Asus says that the dual cameras have gained some AI upgrades that allow them to identify 16 different scenes and apply the appropriate settings. To help organise the many photos you snap, Asus has included a feature called AI Gallery that is said to help group photos together and also make adjustments according to your previous edits.

Of course, no self-respecting flagship is without a feature that is centred around emojis. ZeniMoji is Asus’ answer to this growing trend, allowing users to play around with seven animated characters and create their own individual stickers or used as a video message.

The ZenFone 5, on the left, and the ZenFone Max Pro M1 to the right together during the launch in Kuala Lumpur.

Maximum power

If you crave for all-day long power, then Asus’ ZenFone Max Pro M1 smartphone may be the one for you. This is the first model from Asus to do away with its ZenUI and go with stock Android.

The Max Pro packs a 5.99-inch Full HD+ display with the usual 18:9 aspect ratio while under the hood it is powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor as the ZenFone 5.

Asus said the Max Pro will come three variants: 3GB + 32GB, 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 64GB.

Also depending on the model chosen the dual cameras on the back varies between a 13-Megapixel main camera and a 5-Megapixel secondary camera or a 16-Megapixel main camera and 5-Megapixel secondary camera. Suffice to say the higher Megapixel variant will go together with the 4GB RAM and 64GB version of the device.

But the Max Pro’s claim to fame has to be the massive 5,000mAh battery that Asus says enables it to last up to two days on a single charge.

According to Asus the ZenFone 5 is available at US$327 (RM1,299). Meanwhile, the ZenFone Max Pro M1 will retail at RM699 for the 3GB+32GB, RM849 for the 4GB + 64GB and RM999 for 6GB + 64GB.

Online pre-orders on Lazada for the ZenFone 5 will start from June 4. Lazada will also be conducting flash sales on June 1,5, 12, 19 and 26 for the 4GB + 64GB at $201 (RM799) and 3GB + 32GB at US$151 (RM599) variants of the Max Pro M1.

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